The Penguins had owned the Capitals in the postseason. But this year, Alex Ovechkin & Co. would not be denied. Here's how this year was different.

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First line. It's no coincidence that the Capitals are in the conference final at the same time Ovechkin is having his most impactful postseason. As usual, his numbers are strong: eight goals and seven assists in 12 games. But it's when he's scored that's mattered, factoring in on three game-winning goals against the Penguins. Evgeny Kuznetsov (7-7-14) has been just as important, with the game-tying goal in Game 5 and the overtime series winner in Game 6. Tom Wilson, who was suspended three games for a head-shot against the Penguins, returns to create space and chaos.

The Lightning, meanwhile, have a similar trio in Steven Stamkos (3-7-10), Nikita Kucherov (6-6-12) and J.T. Miller (2-5-7): Two unstoppable skill guys, with a truculent (and offensively underrated) winger. They haven't been dominant at 5-on-5 in the playoffs, scoring four goals in 10 games, but they have been dangerous, with a plus-11 in shot attempts. Were this the regular season, the nod goes to Tampa. But given how these lines have played through two rounds... Advantage: Even.

ESPN On Ice

Greg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan discuss the Capitals finally taking out the Penguins and the Golden Knights' push for the Stanley Cup. Plus, ESPN's Victoria Matiash stops by to give her view on the postseason thus far, and we hear from Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski about his Bruins fandom. Plus, all of your favorite segments of the week! Listen »

Goaltending. Has Andrei Vasilevskiy made you a believer? He has a .943 even-strength save percentage this postseason, and has generally been solid across the board for the Lightning. In six of their 10 games, Vasilevskiy has given up two goals or less.

Braden Holtby sat behind Grubauer for the Capitals' first two playoff games, but has been strong since regaining the crease, if not dominant. Advantage: Even.

Special teams. Two lethal power plays. The Capitals are second in the playoffs, at 30.9 percent (13-for-42), while the Lightning are fourth, at 26.3 percent (10 of 33). Oshie leads all scorers with four power-play goals, setting up in the slot for shots like Ovechkin does from the circle. Alex Killorn has three for the Lightning. The Capitals have a slight advantage on the penalty kill (79.1 percent) over the Lightning (74.2 percent) in the postseason, and were significantly better (80.3 percent) than Tampa (76.1 percent) in the regular season. Advantage: Capitals.

Health: The big concern for the Capitals is Backstrom, an essential ingredient to any recipe for success against the Lightning. Winger Andre Burakovsky, who has been out since the Columbus series, looks like he's on the way back, as coach Barry Trotz said he's "day-to-day" rather than "week-to-week" and will travel to Tampa.

The Lightning are generally healthy, which is what happens when you win your first two series in five games each. Forward Adam Erne is the only player on their injury report. Advantage: Lightning.

Coaching. Like Ovechkin, Barry Trotz finally gets a chance at coaching in a championship round after 1,524 regular-season games. Like Ovechkin, he earned it, outcoaching Mike Sullivan in the previous round with some deft lineup decisions after Wilson's suspension and Backstrom's injury. (The less said about benching Holtby vs. Columbus, the better of course.)

Jon Cooper's aggressive system makes the Lightning difficult to play against, and you can feel the enthusiasm from the players who thrive in it. Cooper, who nearly coached the Capitals before they hired Adam Oates instead, is in his third conference final series. Advantage: Lightning.